Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at just two years old, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield employee Chad Williams, of Hilton, has spent his life overcoming obstacles that most runners never have to face. Now, his sights are set again on this year’s Boilermaker 15K Road Race in Utica July 13, with someone incredibly special by his side.
Cerebral palsy affects movement, muscle tone, and posture. For Chad, it has meant years of physical therapy, a surgical procedure in his youth, and daily perseverance just to manage routine tasks.
In 2022, Chad decided to challenge himself in a new way – through running. He began with a 5K that included twenty obstacles along the course. Chad soon learned he was just as capable as every other runner and eventually ran in his first Boilermaker race…